Why Are E-bike So Expensive

As e-bikes become increasingly popular, many people have begun to see their usefulness. Not only are they a fantastic way to get around, but they’re also a lot of fun to ride. However, if you have been considering buying an e-bike, you have probably noticed how expensive they are. So, what makes their price tag so high? Why are e-bikes so expensive? Take a look at the top 5 reasons e-bikes have a hefty price tag. Here are top 5 factors that increase the price of e-bikes.

Battery

Bicycles in general aren’t cheap, but add in a motor and battery and that cost can go much, much higher. Batteries are often regarded as the single most expensive part of an e-bike, ranging from a few hundred dollars for a very low-cost unit to well over $1,000 for some of the nicer ones. This is also a component you really don’t want to go cheap on, as it’s going to dictate how far you ride. Larger batteries cost more, so if you want range on a single charge you’re going to pay for it.

The Battery will also partially dictate the lifespan of your e-bike. Quality lithium ion batteries, the most common type on e-bikes, have a typical lifespan of 2-4 years depending on how they’re used and taken care of.

More expensive batteries are often engineered to give the cells inside their best shot at the longest lifespan — either through a specially designed battery management system or careful attention paid to hardening it against the elements - and cheaper ones may not have been given that special attention.

Motor

The other thing that drives the cost of e-bikes up that ordinary bikes do not have to worry about is the motor. The purpose of the motor is to use energy from the battery to make one of the wheels turn when you pedal or when you twist a throttle depending on whether you have a pedal assist e-bike or a throttle assist e-bike.

The motor increases the price since they need to be specially fitted this means that they increase the labor cost and the increase the cost of parts since they’re normally bought from companies that make them special.

Shipping Fees

Due to the added weight from the battery and the motor electric bikes tend to be around 20 pounds heavier than they would have been if they were to be an ordinary bike. The extra weight means that the cost of shipping the parts will be higher. This can cause the prices of electric bikes to increase.

High Quality Components Needed

Since the extra power provided from the motor means that you will be able to cycle an e-bike at a higher speed than an ordinary bike it means that it will be important to have parts that you can rely on. For example, when you’re cycling at over 20 mph it is important that the brakes will be able to make you stop quickly. But, having higher quality parts will raise the price of the bike since they come with a higher cost.

Less competition

Since e-bikes have only really gained popularity in the last 2 years it means that there are still not as many manufacturers in the market as there could be. This means that there is less competition among manufacturers to compete on price so the prices are higher. With that being said increasing competition could be about to change that.

Other e-bike costs to consider

Other costs elements in electric bikes are waterproofing, wiring, and the controller. Any device involving electricity must be 100% waterproof or it will short out. Or, in the worst case, it will be permanently damaged. So an electric bike needs to resist water. It also needs to be resistant to dust ingress, heat, cold, etc. to an extent a conventional bike does not.

An electric bike may be traveling in rain or even snow may splash through puddles, etc. It may be left outside for long periods and ice up or be baked in strong sunlight. So an important part of costs in an electric bike is the need for the materials used to be very good quality and the manufacturing to be to a high standard. All the power in an electric bike also needs to be carefully managed by the rider.

So, some use sensors to determine how much electric assistance to deliver based on what the rider is doing. Others may use a handlebar-mounted throttle controller. These both mean more cost to manufacture.


Conclusion

Electric bikes are fun. If it is fun you are after, it maybe doesn’t really matter to you if they do cost more to buy and run than a conventional bike. The main reasons today why electric bikes are more expensive than conventional bikes are that they have more expensive components when they are built. E-bikes also have higher running costs because of servicing, battery replacement, tire wear, and charging.If it’s not just fun and you want a practical way to travel, electric bikes have advantages and disadvantages compared to small motorcycles.